QuickBooks Simple Start
The professional standard for growing service businesses
Overview
QuickBooks Simple Start is Intuit's entry-level small business accounting product and the clear upgrade path once your practice starts to grow. At $17.50/month, it's affordable for established practitioners and provides the professional-grade reporting, tax preparation support, and integrations that serious businesses need. It's the most widely used accounting software for independent professional service businesses in the U.S. — which matters when your accountant, bookkeeper, or tax preparer needs to work with your books.
Key Features
- Income and expense tracking with automatic categorization
- Professional invoicing with payment processing
- Mileage tracking (important for mobile professionals)
- 1099 preparation for contractors
- Sales tax tracking and reporting
- Profit & loss, balance sheet, and cash flow reports
- Connect with 750+ third-party apps
- Accountant access — your CPA can log in directly
Pricing
$17.50/month (promotional) — regular price $35/month
QuickBooks Simple Start is typically priced at $35/month, but Intuit regularly runs 50% off promotions for the first 3–6 months. At $17.50–$35/month, it's the right investment once you have consistent client revenue. Higher tiers (Essentials at $65/month, Plus at $99/month) add multi-user access, bill management, and time tracking.
Pros & Cons
✓ Pros
- Industry standard — your accountant already knows it
- 750+ integrations with payment processors, CRMs, and other tools
- Excellent 1099 contractor prep — critical for growing practices
- Mobile mileage tracking (essential for mobile professionals)
- Scales with you — upgrade tiers are affordable as you grow
- Strong customer support and a massive community of users
✕ Cons
- Costs money — Wave is free and handles basics
- Can be overkill for very early-stage practices with minimal transactions
- Pricing increases significantly on higher tiers
- Occasional feature bloat for simple solo practices
Our Verdict
When your practice has consistent monthly revenue and you're tracking multiple income streams, QuickBooks Simple Start is the right move. The $17.50–$35/month investment pays for itself in time saved and in having clean books when tax season arrives. Start with Wave if you're in year one. Switch to QuickBooks when your accountant needs proper books or when you start 1099-ing contractors.
Implementation Guide™
Setting Up QuickBooks Simple Start in Your Practice
Business Setup
Complete your company profile. Configure your business type (service business), fiscal year, and invoicing preferences.
Client Invoicing
Create invoice templates with your service name, rate structure, and payment terms. Send invoices directly from QuickBooks.
Expense Tracking
Connect your business bank account and credit card. Categorize transactions as they import. Separate business and personal from day one.
Tax Preparation Records
Use the Profit & Loss report as your primary document for tax season. Export quarterly for your own records. Give your tax preparer read access during filing season.
Who Uses This
SecureServe Academy™ reviews are editorial assessments. We are not affiliated with these software providers. Pricing and features may change — verify with the provider before purchasing.
Career Pathways
Identify Your Career Path
Software selection is one component of practice setup. The Professional Pathway Guide™ covers the full picture — profession comparison, compliance requirements, and launch sequencing.
Take the Career Path Finder™